evening stroll

it is just before the winter
rain is scarce
the river is almost dry
somehow, out of old habit
it still crawls by.
---
the snake has come out of its hole
it is too dry inside
and though it is not thirsty
it persuaded itself
that it needs some fresh air
the snake has made this new habit
of crawling by the length of the river
a little, each evening
like an evening stroll
taken in the afternoon
---
the snake knows
soon the river will dry out
it also knows
then
it will crawl by the memory of the river
like an evening stroll
taken at midnight.
---
the snake does not know
soon it will rain.
the best laid plans are always de-railed.